Crypto ATM laws in Maine: a guide for operators (2026)

Licensing in Maine

A kiosk operator must be licensed as a money transmitter under the Maine Money Transmission Modernization Act (Maine adopted the full MTMA, including virtual currency, in 2024, LD 2112). Licensing goes through NMLS.

Regulator: Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection (Superintendent of Consumer Credit Protection), Dept. of Professional and Financial Regulation · License: Money transmitter license

Sources: Maine PL 2025, c. 285 (LD 1339), 32 MRSA §6165 licensing requirement · CSBS MTMA legislative update, August 2026 (Maine LD 2112, effective 2024-08-09) (secondary)

Maine's kiosk law

32 M.R.S. 6165-6170-B (P.L. 2025, c. 285) · effective 2025-06-12

• No more than $1,000 per day may be accepted from or dispensed to a customer through the operator's kiosks (applies to all customers, not just new ones).
• Total charges on one transaction may not exceed the greater of $5 or 3% of the transaction's dollar value.
• Operators must refund the full amount, including fees, of all transactions made within 90 days of the customer's first transaction with that operator if the customer was induced by fraud or an unfair, deceptive or abusive practice and, within 1 year of the last such transaction, files a report with a government or police agency that includes a sworn statement.
• Before a transaction, operators must clearly disclose material risks, including fraud or loss risk, and the exchange rates for buying and selling.
• At the customer's choice, a paper or electronic receipt must be given showing customer name, date and time, operator name and license number, fiat and crypto amounts, fees, transaction hash, destination address and exchange rate.
• Operators must give the bureau the physical locations of all kiosks operating in Maine.
• Records must be kept at least 3 years, including customer name, address, date of birth, driver's license number, video or other recordings and any biometric data.
• Any customer waiver of these rights is void.

Sources: Maine PL 2025, c. 285 (approved 2025-06-12, emergency clause) · Maine Revised Statutes 32 §6169 (consumer protections) · Maine Senate Democrats, 2025-06-10: Senate sends LD 1339 to Governor (secondary)

Bills and changes to watch

• PL 2026, c. 542 (reported as SP 811), enacted 2026-03-03: lets certain cash-dispensing machines register through NMLS and bars operating such a machine as a virtual currency kiosk unless the operator is a licensed money transmitter; effective 90 days after the 2026 session adjourned (Orrick, secondary).

Enforcement and lawsuits

• 2026-01 (announced around 2026-01-05): Bitcoin Depot agreed to a $1.9 million consent agreement with the Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection after a two-year investigation over scam losses and alleged unlicensed activity; it must compensate Maine residents and obtained a Maine money transmitter license.

Practical hurdles

• The 3% fee cap (or $5) is among the lowest in the country and limits typical kiosk margins.
• The flat $1,000 daily limit applies to every customer, not just new ones.
• The 90-day refund window runs from the customer's first transaction and the victim has a year to report, so refund exposure is long.

What we couldn't confirm

• Exact effective date and bill number of PL 2026, c. 542 (from a secondary source only).
• Exact date of the Bitcoin Depot consent agreement and the Bureau's own press release (only secondary sources read).
• Maine money transmitter bond and net worth amounts (not checked).
• No Maine municipal kiosk bans found in a quick search; not exhaustive.